St. Augustine High's football team was soaking in it after the first quarter Friday night.

The way the Yellow Jackets responded could be the catalyst that carries them to another special season.

Everyone who follows local football knows St. Augustine is the premier program in the county. Few schools in Florida have been as consistently successful as SAHS.

But every team is different.

A new year equals new challenges and with those challenges come questions.

Tradition can only carry a team so far, and it never makes a tackle when you need it.

How will a team respond in a critical situation? That question faces every squad at every level of the game each season. The 2005 edition of the Yellow Jackets answered that question with a bold answer.

A 37-point bold answer. St. Augustine proved it can thrive in a difficult situation. That's the trait of a special team.

"I think this game tonight definitely showed what kind of character this team has," St. Augustine junior defensive end Donnie Gumble said. "We got down 10 points right off the bat but came back strong with 37 straight points."

The Jackets could've felt sorry for themselves and started thinking about what excuses they would throw out after the game. Instead, they gutted out a crucial win that likely will lead to another district championship.

It was an impressive performance. An impressive reaction to adversity. Just ask the opponent.

"They've got it going on over here," Clay coach Jim Reape said. "For them to have Rai-shawn Wilson, Carlos Hamilton and those defensive linemen out and still play like that is pretty good. You can tell the kids believe in their system."

St. Augustine will encounter other situations like this as the season progresses.

It must be comforting for Joey Wiles and his staff that his players will be able to rely on the experience they gained against Clay.

"We were a whole new team, especially in the second half," St. Augustine senior linebacker Matt Garris said.

"We started out flat but really picked it up, and it feels great to know we can do that."